Organized in conjunction with the centenary of the death of Massenet (1842-1912), the conference proposes to highlight various aspects of the composer’s life and works, both within the musical context of fin-de-siècle Europe and from the point of view of the reception of his operas. In the last fifteen years, several elements of Massenet’s oeuvre have received renewed critical attention. This conference intends to focus on the close rapport that Massenet cultivated, at different stages of his career, with the various countries around the Mediterranean basin, both as sources of inspiration for new works and concerning his relations with other composers as well as performers.
The conference is open to all innovative paper proposals, but the scientific committee would particularly welcome studies of the following:

— The dissemination and reception of Massenet’s works in Mediterranean countries
— Paths of mutual influence between Massenet and Mediterranean composers
— Massenet and musical Hispanism
— Massenet and his publishers outside France
— Massenet and the ancient world (Biblical topics, Egypt, Rome…)
— Massenet’s period in Rome
— Massenet’s trip to Spain and his period there
— Massenet’s interpreters in the Mediterranean World (Cavalieri, Bellincioni, Battistini, Gayarre…)
— Massenet and Transalpine conductors

The conference will be held in English, French, and Italian.
Papers selected for presentation at the conference will be published in a miscellaneous volume.
Papers are limited to twenty minutes in length, allowing time for questions and discussion.
Please submit an abstract of no more than 500 words and one page of biography. All proposals should be emailed to: operaomnia@luigiboccherini.org by no later than ***15 May 2012***. With your proposal please include your name, contact details (postal address, e-mail and telephone number) and (if applicable) your affiliation.
The committee will make its final decisions on the abstracts by the 15 June 2012, and contributors will be informed immediately thereafter. Further information about the programme, registration, travel and accommodation will be announced after that date.
For any additional information, please contact: